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need a 3 zone receiver with airplay

post #1 of 10
5/14/12 at 6:05pm
Thread Starter 
Goal is to setup 3 separate stereo zones (6 speakers) with a receiver that can also do airplay. Can I accomplish this with a Denon AVR-3312CI? Or do I need to step up to a AVR-4311CI? It doesnt have to be Denon but it needs to have airplay capabilities.

Also, I need a device that can toggle between each zone with ease. Customer previously had a DRA-295 so he was use to simply pushing speaker A or B or both to select the zone or zones he wanted. He wants something similar that can do this, not a universal remote but a device that would sit on top of the receiver that has hard buttons.

All suggestions are welcome. thanks!
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post #2 of 10
5/14/12 at 6:10pm
As the 3312CI is a 7.2 AVR, it can only do Zone 3 with an external 2CH amp while the 4311CI being a 9.2 AVR can power both Zones 2 and 3 with on board amps and 5.1 in the main zone. A smart phone can be used to control either AVR including Zone control, otherwise if he wants to use the factory remote, you'll need to setup some IR repeaters in the other zones.
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post #3 of 10
5/14/12 at 9:34pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks, no 5.1 will be needed since this will only be for audio. I assume that doesnt make a difference since I can make just make the main zone stereo.

I checked out the iphone denon app in demo mode and it looks pretty sweet.

Do you know if there is such a thing as Auto source select for zones 2 and 3? For example if I were to change the source in zone 1 can it automatically change to the same source in zone 2 and 3? 99% of the time all zones will have the same source so it will be annoying having to change it 3 times everytime the client changes the source.
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post #4 of 10
5/14/12 at 9:45pm
Yes, the main zone can be set to STEREO mode. And yes, Zones 2 and 3 can be set to "SOURCE" such that whatever is selected in the main zone will also play in Zones 2 and 3 as well. Although note, if 99% of the time the audio will be the same across all 3 zones, your client may be better served with just a 7.1 AVR used in "Multi CH STEREO" mode which would play the same stereo content to each of the 3 different zones, although a much better configuration if minimal volume changes are made as the master volume would control all 3 sets of speakers vice individual volume control with dedicated Zones.
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post #5 of 10
5/15/12 at 9:06am
Thread Starter 
Thanks, thats good to know. I did think about multi ch stereo and brought it up to the client but he definately wants to be able to turn on and off zones and needs independent volume control for each zone since the zones are pretty far apart. I think the 4311ci will fit the bill nicely.
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post #6 of 10
5/15/12 at 10:04am
Is there video going into the main zone or any sources other than airplay? Doesn't seem to be from your posts. If not, get three Airport Expresses and a 6-12 channel distribution amp and call it a day. That gives you 3 independent but groupable zones that are individually volume and content controlled. That being said, Airplay as the sole source for disty audio is kinda lame. I'd suggest at least having the option of streaming.
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post #7 of 10
5/15/12 at 4:29pm
Thread Starter 
No video but there will be other audio sources, mainly a turntable and a CD player.
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post #8 of 10
5/15/12 at 5:59pm
Thread Starter 
Hmm now been looking at various speaker selectors and thinking he may be better off with one of these. Would this work?

http://www.amazon.com/Niles-HPS-4-Fo.../dp/B00020P8AA

With this I wouldnt even need zones per say and can use the 7.1 receiver in multi ch stereo mode correct? He would be limited to one source at a time which is not an issue but I think he would lose the capabilities of controlling each zone with his iphone which is a really sweet feature.

Or I can stick with the 4311ci and combine the speaker selector and the 3 "true" zones which could be pretty badass but he could run into the issue of accidently turning off a zone on his iphone then the speaker selector wouldnt work. decisions decisions....

If only there was a speaker selector that was wifi and had an iphone app too...

Client is also requesting independent volume controls at each zone so I'm planning on installing a few of these as well:

http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/o...e-control.html
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post #9 of 10
6/9/12 at 2:55am
Not sure if someone went over this, but the problem with the Denons is that when you use AirPlay it hijacks all other zones. I Found this out after I bought it. There is no way to use multiple zones correctly with AirPlay...all six speakers will have to play the same thing. Best bet is to get an airport express.
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post #10 of 10
6/9/12 at 5:35am
^^
Correct, although this limitation has been removed on the newer XX13 models.
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